Quickhit football gains NFL License for online coaching game

A Massachusetts social gaming start-up is about to go big-time by adding the NFL brand to its online PC game.

Quickhit, a free-to-play browser based coaching game will boast all 32 NFL teams, their uniforms, logos and stadiums come this fall. The game doesn’t have a deal for all the NFL players but users can have access to five current players such as Randy Moss and can pay for classic players like Barry Sanders and Randall Cunningham.

While the game should turn heads, equally intriguing is the licensing arrangement with the NFL. The league has an exclusive contract with Electronic Arts for all console, PC and hand-held NFL games. But it’s unclear if it applies to online-based games, which may be how Quickhit was able to get the NFL license.

Quickhit CEO Jeff Anderson, a former EA employee, wasn’t able to shed light on the negotiations but he said he was excited about getting to play with NFL teams.

“I was at EA and saw the value and the power of the franchise. It is the most popular sport out there,” Anderson said. “Having the NFL and getting that validation is an incredible opportunity to bring in new users and expand our content.”

Quickhit got going in October and managed to rack up 1 million users. Played in a more casual style, players assemble their teams and send in plays, which their players execute for them. Your team’s accomplishments win you experience points.

Anderson said the game should appeal to people who love the NFL but find a game like Madden NFL too complicated and hard to control.

The new NFL content will go live with the upcoming 2010 season this fall.